Cultural Rajasthan (Make Customise Tours)

After breakfast full day city tour of Delhi which is India’s bustling capital city. It was from here that Hindu, Muslim and Mughal dynasties as well as the British ruled. Old & New Delhi present a stunning juxtaposition of sights and sounds with the ancient city built by Emperor Shah Jahan the builder of the famous Taj Mahal, and the new garden city built in 1911 by the British.
Covering India gate (war memorial), Rajghat (the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi ) and Red Fort – Delhi’s most magnificent monument.After that visit The National Museum is one of India’s most prestigious institutions. The galleries of the museum follow a historical and chronological sequence. The Indus Valley Gallery displays many antiquities excavated from Mohenjodaro and Harappa, like terracotta toys, images and pots, jewellery, seals, bronze and copper implements and sculpture. Laterondrive past President’s House, Parliament House & Secretariat Building. Later on visit Qutab Minar which is 72.5 m in height and has a mosque at the base.Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast check-out and you depart on a four hours drive to Agra. Arrive Agra and check-in into hotel. Later on visit Agra Red Fort which is surrounded by a 70 feet high wall. It is home to the beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous palaces including the Jahangir Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-Am and Moti Masjid. Later it was used by his son Jehangir as the seat of power. With four gates the Fort is enclosed by a double barricaded wall of red sand stone. The Jahangir Mahal is reached through an impressive gateway and its inner courtyard consists of beautiful halls, profuse carvings on stone, exquisitely carved heavy brackets, piers and cross beams.
In the late afternoon visit the Taj Mahal which is India’s most fascinating and beautiful masterpiece. Set amidst landscaped gardens on the banks of the Yamuna river, this edifice was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. After her untimely death, Shah Jahan had her mortal remains buried in this mausoleum. And after his own demise he was placed to rest next to his beloved queen in the same mausoleum. With the Sunset the white marble changes its colour and hues and it is excellent for photography. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast check-out from the hotel and we take you to on a visit to Fatehpur Sikri – Built by Akbar the Great in the 16th century to serve as the capital of his vast empire, Fatehpur Sikri was mysteriously abandoned 13 years later. The mosque at Fatehpur Sikri is considered a copy of the mosque at Mecca and is extremely elegant, containing elements of Hindu and Persian design. The main entrance to the complex Buland Darwaza or “Great Gateway” is reached by an impressive flight of stairs. Inscribed on the inside of the archway is the quote: “The World is a bridge. Pass over it, but build no house upon it. He who hopes for an hour, may hope for eternity.
After continue drive to Jaipur. Enroute visiting Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary – one of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world. The marshes here are home to over 360 species of birds including the Siberian cranes that come to spend the winter here. On arrival check in into hotel. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast full day sightseeing of Jaipur which is an exuberance of color, dance, and song with the traditional arts and crafts. It’s one of India’s most well planned cities, with wide, straight avenues, roads, streets and lanes in a grid system. The great warrior/astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II carefully planned Jaipur’s foundation. Laid out in the 18th century, its design followed specifications from an epochal Hindu treatise on architecture. This “Pink City,” so called because its buildings are painted in the tones of an autumnal sunset, intersperses the play of red and pink with white borders and motifs.
Morning we take you to Amber Fort, the ancient capital of the state until 1728. Ascend on elephant back to the hill, on which the fort is situated. In the afternoon visiting Hawa Mahal or “Palace of Winds,” one of the major landmarks of Jaipur, although it is actually little more than a facade. The five-storey building overlooks the main street of the old city and is a stunning example of Rajput artistry with its pink, semi-octagonal, honeycombed, sandstone windows. It was originally built to enable the ladies of the royal household to watch the everyday life and processions of the city. The City Palace which is blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture and the royal family still lives in a part of the palace. The palace is now a fine museum. It houses a remarkable collection of textiles, paintings, manuscripts, and extraordinary weapons. On display there are two huge urns of silver, said to be the largest silver vessels in the world. Nakkarkhana-ka-Darwaza, the imposing gateway of the City Palace guarded by stone elephants, is monumental. Adjacent to the City Palace is Jantar Mantar, the ancient astronomical observatory built by Raja Jai Singh, whose passion for astronomy was even more notable than his prowess as a warrior. Overnight at hotel

After breakfast check-out from the hotel and drive to Pushkar – the city of Brahma. Pushkar is a sacred town for the Hindus, situated 11 kms. to the North-West of Ajmer. The charm of this sleepy, lakeside settlement so captivated the great Indian poet, Kalidas, that it found a place in his classic, Abhigyan Sakuntalam. The Great Hindu epics of Mahabharat and Ramayana make references to this religious place regarded to be Adi Tiratha. Evidence points to its having existed during the fourth century B.C. lake in the inhospitable surroundings of a desert is no less than a miracle.
Enjoy a peaceful day in the idyllic village around the holy Pushkar Lake. One can walk around the entire lake in about an hour. There is drumming every evening at sunset from the 52 ghats surrounding the lake. Visit various temples and the sacred lake. ( Pushkar fair is world famous and normally is during the months of October or November.) Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast check-out from the hotel and drive to Udaipur. En-route visit Chittorgarh. The sprawling hilltop fort of Chittorgarh epitomises the whole romantic, doomed ideal of Rajput Chivalry. Thrice Chittor was sacked by a stronger enemy and on each occasion, the end came in textbook Rajput fashion as jauhar was declared in the face of impossible odds. Visit Chittorgarh Fort – The indomitable pride of Chittorgarh, the fort is a massive structure with many gateways built by the later Maurya rulers in 7th century A.D. Perched on a height of 180 m. high hill, it sprawls over 700 acres. The tablets and chattris within are impressive reminders of the Rajput heroism. The fort has many magnificent monuments, all fine examples of the Rajput architecture. Also visit other palaces and visit that very spot where Rani Padmini committed Johar.
Later on continue drive to Udaipur. On arrival check-in into hotel. The rest of the evening is free to explore this city of lakes on your own. Or you may enjoy our optional boat ride on the picturesque Lake Pichola, cruising past the spectacular City Palace, Jag Mandir Island and the famous Jag Niwas Island. Overnight at hotel.

Morning city tour visiting City Palace – the largest palace complex in Rajasthan, with its scalloped arches, fretted balconies, and cupolas.A part of the palace is converted into a museum. Then visit Jagdish Temple, drive around Fatehsagar Lake, Sahelion Ki Bari (Queen’s resort for her friends). Later on visit Ahar – The ancient capital of sisodias, 3 Km from udaipur, Ahar boasts of a profusion of royal cenotaphs of the rulers of Mewar. A rare collection of antiquities including earthen pots, iron objects and other art items excavated in the region are displayed in a small Govt. museum.

After an early breakfast check-out from the hotel and driver to Ranakpur. Visit Ranakpur Jain Temples complex, one of the biggest and the most important cluster of Jain temples in India. Nestled in the Aravalli range. The Chaumukha Temple, or Four Faced Temple, is the main temple in the complex and dates back to the 15th century. Built in marble, the temple has 29 halls supported by more than 1400 pillars, no two of which are alike. The two other Jain temples in the complex are Neminath and Parasnath temple.

After breakfast check-out from the hotel and visit Ummed Bhawan Palace. A portion of the Ummed Bhawan Palace has been converted into a museum. The architectural splendors of these remnants will enthrall you. Later on continue drive to Jaisalmer – The Citadel City. On the way we pass camel carts, vibrant and colorful Rajasthani women carrying produce to the market, and men sporting brightly colored turbans usually sitting groups just passing the time of the day. On arrival check in into hotel. Rest of the day free to relax at your hotel. Car and driver will be at your disposal. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast half day sightseeing of Jaisalmer. Almost 900 years old, Jaisalmer was a major post on the trade route across the forbidding Thar Desert, and still today, one’s first glimpse of the honey colored walls of the fort, rising out of the hot and barren desert is magical. Untouched by time, Jaisalmer, with its golden crenellated walls and narrow streets lined with exquisite havelies, has a medieval ambience. The fort encloses palaces decorated with delicate jali or lattice worked screens, carved doors and flora carvings, and elaborately carved 12th to 16th century Jain temples. The havelies in both the fort and the town are exceptional. Similar in style to the homes of Venetian merchants, the havelies were the mansions of wealthy traders. The houses are decorated with beautifully carved facades, jali screens and oriel windows, each with an inner courtyard surrounded by richly decorated apartments. To see the beauty of the Thar Desert take a camel ride to Sam Sand Dunes. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast check-out from the hotel and drive to Khimsar – which is steeped in history. Founded 2500 years ago by the Jain Saint Mahaveer this is the starting point of the great Indian Desert. The founder of the castle which was built in mid 15th century was Prince Karamsi. On arrival check-in into Hotel Khimsar Fort. Perched on the edge on the great Thar Desert in the heart of rural India, the unique fort at Khimsar offers a wide range of experiences. The battle-scarred walls and turrets remind one of the glorious past of this place. Relax and pamper yourself with an Kerala aromatherapy massage by expert masseurs. Overnight at hotel.

After an early breakfast, check-out from the hotel and visit Khimsar town. See the rural Rajasthan on Village Tour. Later on drive to Deshnok, the temple is dedicated to Karni Mata -an incarnation of Durga. The temple has fascinating huge silver gates and marble carvings that were donated by Maharaja Ganga Singhji The most attractive feature of temple are the rodents who scamper freely within the premises and if one touches your feet its considered auspicious.
After that continue drive to Gajner. On arrival check-in into hotel Gajner Palace, just a 30-minute drive from Bikaner, is today a grand heritage palace..The Gajner Palace, often described as an incomparable jewel in the Thar desert ‘built by maharajah Ganga Singh of Bikaner stands on the banks of a lake.Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast you have an option to see Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary. Later on drive to Mandawa. Arrive Mandawa and check-in into hotel Castle Mandawa. Mandawa castle, one of the finest castles of Rajasthan is now a beautiful hotel. Mandawa has beautiful frescoes, havelis & mansions.
In the afternoon take a walking tour of the painted ‘havelis’ of some of the leading business families of the country. Though they no longer live here, the local caretakers are happy to show the visitors around. Enroute you can shop for the colorful art and crafts of Rajasthan: tied and dyed textiles, metal handicrafts, carved wooden artefacts and more. Overnight at hotel

After breakfast visit painted havelis & mansions. Also visit Mandawa Town for capturing the rural life in your camera. Later on continue drive to Delhi. Arrive Delhi and car with driver will be at your disposal until transfer to IGI Airport to catch flight for onward destination.